the stairs Lucia and her father went, the butler
following with the grips. It was probably the
intention to take the count to the proper guest
room first, but a door opened and the Countess
Coletti asked, “Lucia, who came?” as Lucia was
in the lead of the silently coming party.

Then the countess caught sight of her hus-
band. “Oh, my dear, my dear!” And the rest
was in Italian. In the tenderest of tones the
count was addressing his wife.

Lucia came rushing down the stairs to throw
herself upon Betty and cry. “Oh, I can't help
it, Betty!” she cried between little sobs. “It
is all right at last! She was glad to see him
and he just gathered her up in his arms! I
think she is crying, too!”

It took Lucia only a few minutes to gain her
self-possession and explain further. “My father
says he has come to 'get us,' as you said, Betty,
but he will stay a while if it is all right with
Uncle to let me finish my school. He told me
that right away. But the main thing was to
find out whether Mother would receive him or
not. Of course, we could not mention _that_ before
the butler. He knew my father. Wasn't that
nice?”

Betty was merely a happy spectator, but
Lucia would not let her go, and when at last,

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